2005 JAGUAR XJR

Background

When the original Jaguar XJ6 saloon hit showrooms way back in 1968 it had everything – Grace, Pace and Space, as the ads told us. Fast forward to 2003 and the third-generation Jaguar XJ, or X350 as it was known internally, carried that tradition on with some aplomb. Fitted with a range of V6 and naturally aspirated and supercharged V8 engines, both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions were available.

Featuring a bonded and rivetted aluminium monocoque chassis that was both 40% lighter and 50% stiffer than the outgoing model’s, the styling of its aluminium body panels were a gentle development of the rounded, hooded-headlight style that had become the XJ-range’s signature look.

Fitted with a multi-link, four-wheel computer-controlled adaptive air suspension, the X350 handled as well as it rode. So well in fact that Jaguar developed an XJR version – and while the previous version had featured a 326bhp supercharged straight-six, the new model had a 395bhp supercharged V8 under the bonnet.

As silky smooth as it was powerful, if the old car had been a broken-nosed bank robber holding a sawn-off shotgun, the X350 was James Bond cradling a specially spec’d and Q prepared Accuracy International AX50.

Limited to 155mph, the short-wheelbase car’s 0-62mph time of just 5.3 seconds might have been impressive but it was its blistering mid-pace acceleration that stunned those lucky enough to be able to drive one.

The stuff of urban legends, they’re still a hugely desirable modern classic, which is why we’re so pleased to be able to offer this one for your consideration.

The Vehicle

This car was originally supplied new in the UK, after which it did a stint in Japan. It’s very recently re-imported from Japan, where it’s spent the overwhelming majority of its life, this stunning Jaguar XJR is finished in Black, with a warm Charcoal leather interior.

As is almost always the case with cars from Japan, it has been beautifully maintained and is in a much better condition than any UK car of the same age and mileage – not that it has covered many miles; with just 57,843 miles recorded – that’s fewer than 3,000 miles per annum on average.

And it does record your speed in miles rather than kilometres because that mighty 4.2-litre, 395bhp supercharged V8 engine sits inside a full domestic-spec car, including a UK sat-nav system and full-size numberplate plinths.

To get a modern classic Jag in this kind of condition is an enthusiasts’ dream in many ways, and combines the very best of all worlds, making it one for the discerning performance Jaguar enthusiast who refuses to compromise when buying their forever XJR saloon.

On the Outside

This Jaguar XJR 4.2 Supercharged Saloon has been recently serviced and has a great spec:

• Leather trim.
• R Embossed leather seats.
• Road Tax £295 per annum.
• Electric tilt slide sunroof.
• Radar active cruise control.
• Bi-Xenon Headlamps.
• Headlamp power wash.
• Mesh front grille.
• Memory to front seats, pedals, mirrors and steering.
• Three stage heated front seats.
• Speed limiter control.
• Alpine 11 Speaker audio system.
• Rear entertainment console in arm rest .
• Rear heated seats.
• Rear door blinds Electric rear screen blind.

The Black coachwork is nothing short of stunning. Putting paid to any lingering doubts you might be harbouring about Jaguar quality back-in-the-day, its tight and even shut lines, gleaming paintwork and wonderful panel alignment speak of a car built with a great deal of care by the sort of craftsmen and women for which the West Midlands is famous.

And that care has been repaid in spades over the years too, because it’s very nearly as good now as it was when it left Coventry almost twenty years ago. Still wearing ripple-free flanks and straight panels, it’s fair to say that it has been cossetted over the years, and curated with an uncommonly high degree of care.

It also wears excellent quality tyres on the 19-inch alloy wheels, and those alloy wheels are in such a good condition that you could be mistaken for thinking that that had been replaced recently. The Japanese love British quality cars such as this one, and they really look after them too.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection – something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Factory-fit extras include bi-Xenon headlamps including a power wash system, and a mesh front grille. The whole thing reeks of class and understated elegance, something the discreet silver, Jaguar-branded brake calipers reinforce. This is a very well-judged car and we applaud whoever spec’d it in the showroom all those years ago.

And, if you are expecting to find a list of faults here then you haven’t been listening. Cars from Japan are invariably pampered, and this one is a credit to that nation’s car enthusiasts because try as we might to find some stone chips to write about, we couldn’t.

On the Inside

The R embossed leather seats are in excellent condition. Heated both front and rear, the front ones are electrically adjustable, as are the steering wheel and pedals.

Plump and yet massively supportive via deep side bolsters, something you’ll appreciate when you start to make the most of the car’s legendary performance and handling, they’re still in great shape, too. With only very gentle creasing, you could be forgiven for mistaking them for seats that have seen three years of use rather than being old enough to vote.

The rear seats are just as good, and the headrests fold down when they aren’t being used, which is a lovely touch that increases rearwards visibility immensely.

The rest of the leather trim is equally impressive, as is the extensive wooden veneer trim, deep-pile carpets, door cards, dashboard instruments, and the chrome controls. It really is a absolutely wonderful cabin to be in – and all the better for being so well preserved.

It’s also got radar-assisted active cruise control with distance ahead control, and everything we’re assured that everything works as it should. This means you pick your cruising speed and the car will automatically keep you a safe distance from the car in front of you, should it be going slower than you’d like.

The boot, which is home to what looks like a totally unused space-saver spare wheel, tool kit and warning triangle, is in great shape – and the fact that lifting the immaculate carpets shows only solid, rust-free metal underneath won’t come as a surprise by now, will it?

Underneath

The paperwork includes a mileage verification certificate from Japan, so under the bonnet you won’t be surprised to hear that everything looks almost factory fresh. We’ve seen three year old cars with more signs of use than his one.

In fact the engine bay is so nicely presented that while those of a fastidious nature may want to detail it, the rest of us could leave it as it is and never give it a second thought.

Even the heatshield on the underside of the bonnet looks to be in incredible shape.

Underneath, the fact that the Japanese aren’t daft enough to smother salt all over their roads means no corrosion that we could see – another massive benefit of buying a car that’s spent most of its life in the far east. You won’t see a car that’s spent any time on winter UK roads looking like this one does.

History Highlights

Apart from the all-important Japanese mileage verification certificate, this stunning XJR also has some early service history with it. On top of this the vendor tells us it’s just had major service. Some of the areas attended to were:

• Gearbox service.
• Engine oil.
• Air pollen filters.
• New front shock absorbers and air springs.
• New front discs and pads.
• New suspension bushes as required throughout.
• New headliner fitted.
• Fitted upper and lower mesh grilles.

What We Think

What an absolutely stunning example of the superb Jaguar X350 XJR. Is there a better one? We don’t know of it if there is, and it’s hard to imagine how a 20 year old Jag could be any better than this beautiful Jaguar sporting saloon.

This vehicle is estimated to fetch between £10,000 - £15,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

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